Spotlight: The Lebrus Stone by Miriam Khan- Excerpt

 

Today on the blog I'm spotlighting The Lebrus Stone by Miriam Khan with an excellent excerpt from the novel. Enjoy :)

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When Eighteen-year-old orphan, Crystal Valdez, accepts an invitation to the small town of Blacksville, West Virginia, she hopes to have a summer to remember and a chance to learn more about her parents, to also get to know the family she never knew existed.

But the Lockes begin to act strange and erratic; eerie movements in the night fuel her vivid and gruesome nightmares. To complicate her summer further, she becomes attracted to the menacing yet handsome Cray Locke: her none blood related cousin who seems determined to keep his distance. The only bonus seems to be the Housekeeper and Gardener.

And when a local informs Crystal of the secrets buried at Thorncrest Manor, the kind consisting of a forbidden relationship and a war between hidden worlds, and witchcraft, she must decide whom to trust. Even if it means leaving behind those she has come to love.

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From The Lebrus Stone......

I lay back and tried not to over think things to calm the storm in my head, but a knock on my door moments later interrupted it.

"Come in!" I called out, sitting up to retrieve my book.

Syd entered, carrying in what looked like a sandwich and a glass of her homemade lemonade.

I could have done with a hot soup.

But I blew a sigh of relief it wasn’t one of the Lockes.

"Isobel said to make sure you had some lunch by now," she said, placing the tray on my bedside cabinet.

"Thanks, Syd."

"Any reason why you’re hiding in here?" she asked as she sat on my bed.

I tensed. Being told I was hiding annoyed me, but I wasn’t annoyed at Syd, just at myself. I had come too far in life to start acting like a coward, especially over something clearly in my head.

I fingered the dog-eared cover of my book.

"I think I just need a quiet day to myself. It could be some type of…delayed jet lag." It could be partly true, I thought. It had taken two flights to get from Salt Lake City to Blacksville; six hours in total. I smiled, pleased with the conclusion. Exhaustion could have been why I had such a freakish dream.

"I see," Syd said, seeming unconvinced. "Well, do you think you’ll be joining the Lockes for dinner?"

"Do I have to?" No matter how much I was becoming fond of Syd, she worked for the Lockes. They could try and make her tell me what do.

"No." She chuckled. "But I think you should try to interact. Cray’s alright, by the way. A little scratch like that won’t do a boy like him any harm."

Boy like him?

So, I had hurt him. My chest tightened.

"Oh, don’t look so beat up about it, honey. The boy is as tough as old boots." She chuckled again. "And luckily for you, he’s not as vain about his looks as you would think. He won’t hold what happened against you." She patted my hand.

I gulped. "Has he…said something?"

"No. He left early this morning. He didn’t say where he was going, and Isobel never dares ask these days. He’s a very private person, as you’ve probably noticed. She respects that. We all do." She looked lost in thought for a moment, then smiled in her sad little way, and asked, "So, are you ready to talk about what happened last night?"

My mouth felt too clamped to begin

"I have to say, not many girls would have left home to meet so many strangers. I admire your courage."

Her comment only made me sound irresponsible. I gritted my teeth.

"I don’t feel very courageous," I admitted. "I feel pretty stupid right now."

Thanks for the added comment to make me feel even more naive, I wanted to add.

"I don’t think five months was long enough to think this through," I said.

She nodded. "Maybe. But everything happens for a reason. You followed your heart. It’s all you can do in life. It’s your only real compass."

I wanted us to keep talking. When Syd wasn’t nicely pointing out my flaws, she had a way of calming me until I felt optimistic about my trip again. But she had dinner to prepare, so she reluctantly left me after insisting I get ready to face my evening with the Lockes.

Something about her was becoming familiar. It could have been the warmth in her eyes and how they reminded me of Selma. She had always been as hospitable and over helpful.

I still missed her. Talking to Syd was like getting back something that had been cruelly taken away, too. It wasn’t just my parents I’d lost, but my pride, self-worth, my best friend, at times my composure. It had been an uphill struggle this past year or so. But I was finally feeling on top of things…I think.

I sure wasn’t going to let it keep me down.

Coming to Blacksville was my new start as the new and improved me. I really had to keep believing that.

Want more? Get your copy today!

Miriam is from Cheshire, England and a family of six siblings. Her love for creativity led to acting at her local theatre before being a lead vocalist in rock bands. During those years, she often found solace penning her thoughts and feelings through lyrics or poetry. She chose not to continue singing in 2006, and two years later she woke up with the idea for The Lebrus Stone and began typing. revising and editing it for the next six years. She is now eager to see what readers will think.

 

Visit Miriam:

Blog | Goodreads |  Facebook

Book Shelf: One More Chance (Chance #2) by Abbi Glines

Grant Carter did everything in his power to convince Harlow Manning that he was a good guy. More than a smooth-talker and someone she could trust. He had to overcome his reputation as a playboy, and his history with Harlow's half-sister, Nan, a woman with a reputation of her own.

Harlow had taken the chance, falling hard and fast for the guy who thrilled her with his all-consuming desire. After a lifetime of avoiding bad boys like Grant, she had opened herself to the possibilities of love...

But a life-changing secret has torn them apart, and now Grant and Harlow must decide if they have enough fight to make it work - or if the pain of betrayal has permanently destroyed their future.

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

One More Chance is the emotional conclusion to Grant and Harlow’s two part story and proves to be another sizzling and at times heart warming tale by Abbi Glines!

Picking up almost two months where the last book left off, One More Chance continues to tell Grant and Harlow’s story now that Grant has been made aware of Harlow’s condition. With an unexpected development putting Harlow’s life in even more danger, Grant and Harlow face their toughest fight ever if they hope to have any kind of future together.

Abbi Glines weaves Grant and Harlow’s sensual romance together with plenty of endearing moments of friendship, love and sweet, tender moments in One More Chance. Personally I really love the way Abbi Glines writes her stories but I was quite delighted to find that One More Chance featured less romantic drama than normally included in a Glines novel.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I enjoy the delicious, almost teenage drama that seems to fill these kinds of novels but I appreciated the lack of cheating, insecurity, pain and constant breakups and reconciliations that seem to be at the center of most NA novels. It was refreshing to see two people face a different kind of obstacle and see nothing but love and commitment shared and expressed by them.

Grant and Harlow have come such a long way, and as I previously mentioned are so very sweet and tender towards each other in this novel. As expected with the previous book’s ending, Grant and Harlow do face getting back together in this book and reconciling, but it was nice to see how devoted and sure of their love for one another they were in this book.

Glines continues to write her trademark sexy and sensual moments, and Grant and Harlow current situation do nothing to dampen their desire for one another, if anything Harlow is like Blaire and they’re more addicted to each other physically than ever.

There are some very cute moments in this novel as well as a few surprises. Case in point; if ever a book showcased the possibility that there may be redemption possible for Nanette it's Once More Chance. I may face losing friends over saying this statement, but I’m ready…..ready to fall in love with Nan. She’s been the villain in the series for so long that I think it’s time Abbi Glines writes a different side to Nan. It may quite possibly be the hardest book Glines ever writes but I’m really excited about the prospect of seeing Nan get a HEA and seeing someone manage to see the good inside her and win her heart. I'd even go so far as to say Major?

Overall One More Chance is a delightfully endearing and emotional ending to Grant and Harlow's tale. Romantic, sweet and sensual--another great Abbi Glines novel!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Simon & Schuster (Thank you Jen!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: A MUST READ for Glines fans.
Cover: Fits perfectly with the first book.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: YES! I'll without a doubt read whatever Abbi Glines writes.....

Blog Tour: The Body Electric by Beth Revis- Excerpt & Giveaway

Today I'm excited to take part in the Blog Tour for The Body Electric by Beth Revis thanks to Xpresso Book Tours! Yesterday I posted my four star review of The Body Electric and today I have an excerpt as well as a freaking awesome tour wide giveaway to share where you can win signed books :)
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The future world is at peace.

Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories.

But not all is at it seems.

Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…

Someone’s altered her memory.

Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.

So who can she trust?

Add on Goodreads or check our my review!

Purchase:

Bookworld | The Book Depository | Amazon | Smashwords  Barnes & Noble | Kobo

 

From The Body Electric......

I sigh, and the sound seems to wrap around me, like a rope made of my own self-doubt, strangling all my hopes with it.

Jack’s expression is fierce. He moves closer, but I back away, my heart thudding, until I’m pressed against the wall and he towers over me. His arms drop down, caging me in.

I only have time to squeak in surprise as Jack swoops down, his face millimeters from my own. My eyes are wide, staring into his.

My gaze drops.

His lips are right there, right in front of mine. They part slightly, and I smell the apple he just ate on his warm breath. I imagine tasting that apple, too.

"You have no idea how difficult it is," Jack said that night in the tower. "Loving you the way I loved you, and you not even remembering who I am."

Jack lifts his hand and presses it against my chest so hard that I can feel the full outline of his hand, burning through my shirt and into my flesh.

"Feel that?" he asks, but I have no answer for him, because everything I’ve ever felt is racing through my entire body, fear and desire and panic and lust and doubt, all of it, all at once, bubbling up around his hand like a pot of boiling water.

"Science can make a heart beat," Jack says softly, each word falling on me like a caress. "But it can’t make it race."

Want more? And trust me you do---grab your copy today

 

Beth Revis is the NY Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe series. The complete trilogy is now available in more than 20 languages. A native of North Carolina, Beth’s most recent book is The Body Electric, which tells the story of what was happening on Earth while the characters of Across the Universe were in space.

Visit Beth:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

 

Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

•Complete signed trilogy of the Across the Universe series

•A signed copy of The Body Electric

•An Across the Universe branded water bottle

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Book Shelf: The Body Electric by Beth Revis

The future world is at peace.
Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories.

But not all is at it seems.

Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…

Someone’s altered her memory.

Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.

So who can she trust?
 
More info on Goodreads......


Review:

The Body Electric by Beth Revis is an intriguing and mysterious futuristic tale that blends government intrigue and terrorism with romance and suspense in an unknown and exciting story that will leave you wanting more.

As someone who actually wasn’t a fan of Beth Revis’s debut Across the Universe, I was a little bit daunted heading into this novel. I didn’t know what to expect, but the premise looking promising and the storyline was enticing enough that I dived head first into the story. While it took a little while for the story to pick up, the world and the mystery surrounding the main characters history was something that caught me from the very beginning and had me eagerly reading along and trying to piece the clues together.

The Body Electric is set in the futuristic city of New Venice, Malta and follows Ella Shepherd a teenage girl who lives within New Venice. The Body Electric details a world where technology is advancing every day and science is literally opening doors into other people’s minds. As the daughter of two renowned scientists, Ella lives in a united and highly government controlled world after a massive war destroyed much of the country decades before. In this imaginative world Beth Revis has concocted, individuals wear cuffLINK devices on their wrists connected to tiny nanobots inside them that allow people to access online information, make calls, communicate, pay for things as well as almost everything else.

As the primary care giver to her terminally ill mother, Ella finds her already difficult life begin to unravel further when a series of supposed attacks from a group of rebels leads Ella to begin questioning everything she thought she knew about herself and those around her. The leader of the group claims they used to be in love despite Ella having no recollection of him. Her mother’s already deteriorating condition takes an unexpected twist. The leader of New Venice wants her to spy on the rebels using her mother’s technology and Ella’s ability to get into someone else’s mind and suddenly Ella beings displaying abilities and straits that aren’t quite normal. Or human. With her country on the brink of another war, Ella is guided by images of her dead father and must uncover the truth about her past if she can ever hope of having a future.

I have to say I was very impressed by this story. The main character was fantastic to follow and the world Revis has constructed was very interesting. All the hallmarks of a standard futuristic tale was there, but Revis still managed to explore something different within the story. I liked that Revis took her story from the usual American or English setting and set it in Malta. Now, I don’t want to give away spoilers, but I thought it was very clever how she managed to develop the story; I honestly had no clue as to why our main character Ella’s memory was so different than that of rebel leader Jack’s and I thought it extremely smart how Revis slowly brought clues about Ella to light. The ultimately discover of Ella’s past and the truth about why she was the way she was and what she could do was very exciting.

This story was fast moving and exciting for the majority of the way through. Beth Revis pens a likable herione in Ella; someone you vye for and honesty like. Ella’s relationship with rebel leader Jack was very well thought out and even though they had a history, I found their present to be wonderfully constructed too. They had great chemistry and Revis managed to develop their relationship while not compromising the rest of the action based, scientific and fast moving storyline.

Mysterious and edgy, The Body Electric ends very well, but I’m still really not ready to let the world and characters go. Beth Revis concludes the story in a way that could very well be the end, but with the discoveries at the end and the revelations brought to light, I for one would very much enjoy a sequel and seeing Revis expand on this world and story further…..

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Xpresso Book Tours and the author (Thank you ladies!)
Format: Kinde ebook
Buy it: Bookworld | The Book Depository | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Recommendation: If you enjoyed Disruption by Jessica Shirvington or any of Beth Revis's other work, you won't want to miss this.
Cover: I like the green and think it's simple, but sweet.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: I'd love to read more, yes.......

Waiting on Wednesday #81

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....  

Reawakened by Colleen Houck
Releases on: August 25th 2015
Add on Goodreads!

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.

But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

Thoughts:
Ever since I can remember I've been obsessed with all things Ancient Egypt. It's one of my biggest loves and the chance to read a book, any book, featuring it is something I wouldn't pass up. And that's not even considering how AMAZING Reawakened sounds! Honestly, I'm practically salivating to get my hands on this pronto. I'll be pre-ordering it soon and counting down the days until I can get it in my hot little hands!

Doesn't Reawakened sound incredible? Will you be reading it?

And what are you waiting on this week?

 

Book Shelf: Followers (Point Horror) by Anna Davies

To tweet or not to tweet . . . what a deadly question.

When Briana loses out on a starring role in the school's production of Hamlet, she reluctantly agrees to be the drama department's "social media director" and starts tweeting half-hearted updates. She barely has any followers, so when someone hacks her twitter account, Briana can't muster the energy to stop it. After all, tweets like "Something's rotten in the state of Denmark . . . and a body's rotting in the theater" are obviously a joke.

But then a body IS discovered in the theater: Briana's rival. Suddenly, what seemed like a prank turns deadly serious. To everyone's horror, the grisly tweets continue . . . and the body count starts to rise.

There's no other explanation; someone is live-tweeting murders on campus.

With the school in chaos and the police unable to find the culprit, it's up to Briana to unmask the psycho-tweeter before the carnage reaches Shakespearian proportions . . . or she becomes the next victim.

More info on Goodreads.......


Review:

Followers by Anna Davis is marketed as a scary and mysterious murder mystery with Shakespearean elements woven into its pages but does unfortunately not translate well onto paper in this quick read that holds promise but ultimately falls flat.

I’m not going to beat around the bush here; Followers is, for the most part, a disappointment. While it benefits from being a short, quick read, the premise promised so much, including a really exciting murder tale. However the actual novel holds very little of this considering it’s almost halfway through the novel before anything nefarious even starts happening.

Told through the eyes of Briana Beland, a student who loses out on a coveted role in her school’s production of Hamlet and instead finds herself thrust into the shadows of the stars, Followers sees Briana faced with some mystery when students start dying and the school population suspect Briana of being the culprit when the mysterious "Hamlet’s Ghost" starts tweeting about the murders.

I’m being quite generous in my description of this novel, as while all these events do happen, they seem to get lost amongst the petty drama and social issues in this novel. Davis focuses too much on the lead up to the murders and the petty teen drama that encompasses McHale than the actual murders and mystery that surround them. More than half a novel on this stuff gets tiresome as we wait for something entertaining to happen and I found it difficult to concentrate when I wasn’t very interested in her characters’ lives.

Unfortunately for me, I found main character Bree to be quite pathetic and vain throughout the novel. Bree wants to be a star and while she has potential and some talent, seems to get too caught up in the nonsense at McHale with "friends" who turn on her without a second thought. Personally, the book could have benefited from a heroine that wasn’t quite so worried about what other people thought—someone more likable. Granted Bree does eventually grow a little bit, but not before you as the reader find her tiresome. Basically I found her too self-centered and a bit dense.

The ending was too predictable for my liking and seemed farfetched. Everything concluded too quickly and I found too many aspects seemed unbelievable. There was no police involvement in the deaths on campus and yet Bree stumbles over the identity of the killer as easy as pie. Someone had evidently gone to great lengths to commit murder, not just now, but decades in the past and a teenager stumbles upon their identity without any difficulty—yeah; not buying it!

Overall Followers was a great concept that could have been written a lot better. Anna Davis needed to have given the story a bit more depth and believability to have given it any chance…..

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Scholastic Australia (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: This book may not be for everyone, but everything is worth a shot I guess.
Cover: I think the cover's cool--creepy but cool.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is a standalone tale, however it is a part of the Point Horror series which I may read more of as it's by varying authors......

Owl Post #48

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  

Hello my lovelies and welcome to another Owl Post :) Below you'll see what fabulous books I got last week, with a review book and a few I couldn't help but buy :)

For Review:

 

 From Simon & Schuster Australia:

- The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Like I mentioned last week, I'm looking forward to finishing the Mara Dyer series--I hope I love book's two and three as much as I did the first one!

 

Thanks Jennifer!

 
I Bought:

 

- Lead by Kylie Scott
I really love the Stage Dive series, but after waiting for the Australian release of the previous book in the series Play, I couldn't do the same with Lead as I wanted to read it ASAP so I went on and ordered a copy from The Book Depository. And then went on and devoured it upon it's arrival :) Review to come!

- Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood
- Sisters' Fate by Jessica Spotswood
I recently read a copy of the first book in The Cahill Witch Chronicles, Born Wicked that I won ages ago and was just sitting on my shelf and really enjoyed it. I went out and ordered books two and three not long afterwards. Can't wait to read them as soon as I have the chance!

And that's me this week!
What books did you receive lately?